Ahead of a huge year for England we look at 10 questions they must answer in the next 10 months.
Ahead of a monumental year for England we look at 10 questions Kevin Pietersen and co must answer in the next 10 months
With the start of the Stanford Series this week, England kick off a ten-month schedule that builds towards the Ashes - a schedule that will define the Peter Moores era and all of the players' careers. As the countdown to the Aussies' arrival begins, here are the questions that they must answer.
1. Can Andrew Flintoff stay fit?
England are simply a different side with their mighty all-rounder. His bowling gives them another dimension, both in terms of aggression and his peerless threat from around the wicket.
His spell against Jacques Kallis this summer lifted the side and the sporting nation: here's hoping that he is available to do the same against Ricky Ponting next year. His batting has also shown encouraging signs; his presence is invaluable. Let's hope he is not bowled into the ground again.
2. Can Monty Panesar develop?
Moores is right to point out that Monty's record at this stage in his career compares favourably with that of some very fine bowlers at the same age.
But he needs to learn some variety and develop, or be given, the confidence to bowl with more air. Let's hope his spell in Sri Lanka is a success.
3. Which Steve Harmison will turn up?
The Ashes 2005 version who terrorised Ponting and Justin Langer at Lord's, or the 2007 version who terrorised Flintoff at second slip?
His fine season with Durham gives hope that it will be the former, but nobody could say they were 100 per cent certain.
4. Who is going to fill Michael Vaughan's place?
... and no unkind remarks about finding someone who can't really field and averages 25 with the bat.
Is Owais Shah the answer? Maybe Michael Vaughan is the answer. A tough one for Moores, this.
5. What state will India be in when England arrive?
India's aging stars are currently locked in a battle royale with Australia for what they clearly regard as their greatest prize. Sourav Ganguly will be gone by the time England turn up, maybe Anil Kumble will too.
Perhaps even Sachin Tendulkar will feel that the time has come. England might face a side in transition who are not fully recovered from a tough battle with Australia - or a battle-hardened outfit determined to go out with a punchy victory over England. It could go a long way to shaping the next stage of England's development.
6. Will England's seamers adapt?
How will the inexperienced Stuart Broad, the improved but still arguably targetable Jimmy Anderson and the noble but physically overstretched Ryan Sidebottom cope with the conditions and demands of India and the West Indies?
7. Can Kevin Pietersen maintain his batting form as captain?
The Pietersen captaincy has started more successfully than anyone (maybe with the exception of KP) could possibly have expected. There will be tougher tests ahead. How will he handle, say, India being 380 for two on a Mumbai belter with Flintoff nursing a side strain in the physio's room and Anderson going at five an over?
Will he still be able to come in and play his natural game after two days marshalling the troops in the field?
8. Will money ruin everything?
Will the newfound wealth cause rifts in the dressing room between those who get their nose in the Stanford trough and those who don't?
What if someone drops a sitter and costs everyone a large fortune?
9. Has Peter Moores got what it takes?
Michael Vaughan rightly went after a pretty weak collective effort against South Africa, the latest in a series of moderate results in the Test arena, and Moores' position cannot be certain forever. Since taking over, his England have beaten New Zealand in two series and the West Indies once, and have lost series to Sri Lanka, India and South Africa.
Does Moores have the right mixture of carrot and stick to get the best out of his charges? Has the England team, as many have argued, become too much of a boys' club?
10. Is Matt Prior an international wicketkeeper?
Let's end on the easiest one...
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